Dental clutch former

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to an improved dental clutch former and method of using the same. Essentially the dental clutch former includes an upper jaw former and a lower jaw former. Each former comprises a front member detachably connected to its respective back plate member. A separating member is provided and it is arranged to be disposed between the respective back plate of the formers during their use in making the clutches. To facilitate the making of the clutches, readily adjustable jig holding members are detachably secured to the respective front members of the former to provide for relative anterior-posterior adjustment of the respective jaw formers. In use, adaptor plates are adjustably positioned onto the respective front members whereby the clutch formers, fixed in one&#39;&#39;s mouth or bite model, may be universally adapted for attachment to any of several different recording devices.

United States Patent [191 Dragan DENTAL CLUTCH FORMER William B. Dragan, RFD No. l Burr St., Fairfield, Conn. 06430 [22] Filed: Aug. 10,1972

[211 Appl. No.: 279,288

[76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerR0bert Peshock Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Arthur T. Fattibene [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure is directed to an improved dental .lune 4,1974

clutch former and method of using the same. Essentially the dental clutch former includes an upper jaw former and a lower jaw former. Each former comprises a front member detachably connected to its respective back plate member. A separating member is provided and it is arranged to be disposed between the respective back plate of the formers during their use in making the clutches, To facilitate the making of the clutches, readily adjustable jig holding members are detachably secured to the respective front members of the former to provide for relative anterior-p0steri0r adjustment of the respective jaw formers. In use, adaptor plates are adjustably positioned onto the respective front members whereby the clutch formers, fixed in ones mouth or bite model, may be universally adapted for attachment to any of several different recording devices.

10 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJuu 41914 3.813.780

- sum 1 or 3 I FIG/l I DENTAL CLUTCH FORMER PROBLEM AND PRIOR ART ln dentistry, and more particularly the highly specialized form of dentistry generally referred to as Gnathology, resort is frequently made to the use of dental clutches to make pantographic tracings of ones jaw movements to as to enable the dentist to ascertain the necessary corrective measures to be taken to remedy certain jaw abnormalities and to arrange the teeth to harmonize with the natural movements of the jaws. The dental clutch former comprises the structural form on which clutches for the upper and lower jaws are formed and which are thereafter attached to the arms of a recording pantograph to obtain a pantographic tracing of ones jaw movements. Generally such dental clutches are made either directly in ones mouth or indirectly on models simulating ones jaws and bite.

Heretofore, dental clutches were custom formed in cast aluminum to fit a particular patient, and as such constituted a readily costly unit as such units could not be used from patient to patient. Also because such clutches had to be custom cast in aluminum and machined difficulty was encountered in having such clutches made. For this reason, a considerable amount of time was required to elapse from the time an order for such clutch was placed to the time that such clutch could be delivered.

Another type of clutch heretofore known comprises an all plastic clutch which tended to simplify their use and reduced their cost. However, the plastic clutches were not stable and did not provide the stability necessary when attached to a recording device to secure an accurate tracing of ones jaw movement.

Also the known clutch formers were formed as a unitary member, which when connected to ones mouth was rendered very difficult to remove.

In addition, the known clutch formers were specifically designed for use with a particular recording device, and thus they were not universally compatible for use with all of the known recording devices.

OBJ ECTS An object of this invention is to provide a clutch former which is stable and which can be firmly anchored to a recording device so as to insure accurate readings.

Another object is to provide a clutch former which is rendered universally adapted to the known or existing recording devices.

Another object is to provide for a multipart clutch former to facilitate the removal of the cemented clutch after the pantographic recordings have been made.

Another object is to provide a clutch former in which the dentist can readily make his own clutch cutomed to a particular patient in a relatively short period of time.

Another object is to provide for a dental clutch former which can be readily reused.

Another object is to provide an improved method of forming dental clutches.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a dental clutch former which may be utilized in conjunction with a pantograph recording device to make a tracing of ones jaw movements. The clutch former comprises an upper jaw former and a lower jaw former, each comprising a front member detachably connected to a back plate member. The respective back plates are shaped to substantially conform to the roof and floor of ones jaws. A separating membrane is interposed between the respective back plate members when the upper and lower impression of one s jaws are simultaneously formed.

To facilitate the use of the clutch formers in making the jaw impression a jig holder is detachably connected to the respective front members of the jaw formers. The respective jig holders are also slidably connected to provide forrelative anterior-posterior adjustment between the respective clutch formers in making the clutch.

AFter cold cure resin is used to form the posterior segments of the upper and lower clutches the respective formers are separated. The front members of the respective formers are separated from their back plate members, and the front plastic section of the clutch is cut to separate it from the body of the clutch. The separate clutch portions are then timmed to remove any burrs. The front plate is then attached to its respective back plate and the front trimmed anterior plastic portion is attached to the metal anterior clutch members. The clutches are now finished and a bearing pin is placed between the clutch formers and adjusted to the proper height. The clutches are ready for use in pantographic recordings.

To adapt the clutch formers to the pantographic arm of a suitable recording device, adaptor plates are provided. The adaptors are readily interchangeable and function to securely anchor the respective clutches to the pantograph so that accurate tracings can be made. The readily severable parts of the clutch greatly facilitate the removal of the clutch from ones mouth.

FEATURES A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a dental clutch comprising of a pair of clutch formers having a separator interposed therebetween to facilitate the making of simultaneous clutches of the upper and lower jaw.

Another feature resides in the provision of a dental clutch having readialy separable components to facilitate the removal of the clutch from ones mouth or bite.

Another features resides in the provision of a dental clutch former which can be readily reused.

Another feature resides in the provision of a clutch fon'ner having adjustably and detachably connected thereto adaptors for rendering the dental clutch applicable for use with various pantographs.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and specification in which:

FIG. I is an exploded view of of the clutch.

FIG. 2 is a detail front elevation view of the back plate of the lower jaw former.

FIG. 3 is a detail front view of the front plate of FIG.

the bottom jaw former FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the upper jaw former of the clutch.

FIG. 5 is a detailed front elevation view of the back plate of the upper jaw former looking in the direction of line 55 on FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detail front view of the front plate of the upper jaw former.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the separating membrane.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a jig holding means.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 on FIG. 8.

FIG. II) is a sectional view of the clutch formers as applied in making a clutch of the upper and lower jaw, in which the forming plastic is shown.

FIG. 11 is an adaptor plate for attachment of the clutch to a pantograph of a recording device.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified adaptor the adaptor of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 but utilizing the adaptor of FIG. 12.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the formed clutches attached to the arms of a pantograph of a recording device.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION Referring to the drawings, there is shown a dental clutch former embodying the present invention, and it is constructed so as to render it universally adapted for use with various known pantographic recording devices by wich a tracing of the jaw movements of a patient can be made for ascertaining corrective measures to be take in the reconstruction of patients mouth. The clutch former 20 of the invention comprises a lower jaw former 21 and an upper jaw former 22.

Referring to FIGS. I to 3, the lower jaw former 21 includes a front plate member 23 which is adapted to be detachably secured to a rear or back plate member 24. The back plate member 24 comprises a generally flat plate member, preferably formed of a stainless steel or other rigid structural material which is shaped so that it may be readily fitted to ones mouth to overlie the bottom teeth. The bottom rear plate member 24 is provided with laterally extending ears 25 having a threaded opening 26 to which the front plate 23 may be detachably secured.

The front member 23 comprises a plate member having a central front portion 23A and opposed bent portions 238 which terminate in laterally extending lugs 27. Each of the laterally extending lugs is provided with a hole 27A for receiving a fastening means, e.g. a screw or bolt 28 by which the front member 23 may be detachably secured to the back member 24. Accordingly, in the assembled position as seen in FIG. ill, the front plate 23 is disposed substantially normal to the back plate 24.

Formed on the bottom plate 24 along the peripheral portion thereof are a series of countersunk retention holes 29. Located centrally of the bottom plate 24 are a plurality of tapped holes 30 which provide the means for adjustably positioning a bearing pin or screw 31 as will be hereinafter described.

The central portion of the front plate 23 is also provided with a series of tapped holes 32. The tapped holes 32 are arranged so as to adjustably attached to the front plate anchor plates 33 or 34, as will be hereinafter described, by which the clutch former 21 may be suitably secured to the pantograph of a recording device. e.g., a Stuart pantograph or a Denar pantograph and/or the like. The bent portions 238 of the front plate are provided with a retention hole 35.

The upper jaw former 22 is likewise formed of a front plate member 36 and a readily detachable rear or back plate member 37. In the illustrated form of the invention as seen in FIGS. 4 to 6 the rear plate member 37 of the upper jaw former is provided with a slightly vaulted portion 37A to facilitate the jaw recordings. The rear or back plate member 37 of the upper jaw former 22 is likewise shaped so as to be readily fitted into ones mouth, and it is likewise provided with laterally projecting cars 38 to which the front plate member 36 may be detachably secured.

The front plate as of the upperjaw former 22 is similar to the lower front plate in that it comprises a central front portion 36A and opposed bent portion 368 terminating in projecting lugs 39. The central portion 36A of the front plate member 36 of the upper former is also provided with a plurality of tapped holes 40 spaced therein to define the means by which attachments or adaptors 33 or 34 may be made thereto. As will be herein described, the tapped holes 32 and 40 in the re spective front plates 23 and 36 are located and spaced to facilitate either the attachment of a holding means 43 for forming of the clutch to conform to the shape of ones jaw or bite model; and/or to provide the attachment of a means for attaching the formed clutch to the pantograph of a given recording device in preparation to making a tracing of ones jaw movements.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the rear or back plate 37 of the upper jaw former is also provided with a plurality of counter sunk retaining apertures 41 adjacent its peripheral edge portion to function as means for retaining the molding compound from which the clutch is made.

A separator or diaphragm member 42, formed of a material, as for example rubber or the like, which is resistant to the adhesion of the forming material, is provided. It will be understood that the size and shape of the separator or diaphragm 42 may vary in size, depending upon the size of ones bit or jaw dimensions. The diaphragm or separator 42 is utilized to effect a separation between the upper and lower jaw formers when making the clutch. As shown in FIG. 10, the diaphragm 42 is adapted to be disposed between the back plate members 24, 37 of the respective lower and upper jaw formers 21, 22 during the forming of the clutch.

To facilitate the forming of the clutch or the impression of ones bite or jaw, a jig holding means 43 is provided. The jig holding means 43 is constructed so as to be rendered readily detachably secured to the respective front plates 23, 36 of the lower and upper clutch formers 21, 22. As best seen in FIG. 7, the jib holding means 43 comprises a pair of L-shaped members 44 and 45 which may be similar. One leg of the respective L-shaped members 44, 45 is provided with spaced openings 46 by which it can be detachably secured to the front plates of its respective clutch formers by means of a suitable fastei'ier, as for example a screw 47. It will be noted that the spacing between holes 46 is coincident with the spacing between adjacent holes 32 or 40 of the respective front plates 23, 26. The other leg of the jib members 44, 45 is provided with an elongated slot 48 whereby the respective holding members 44, 45 may be rendered longitudinally adjustable with respect to one another so as to provide for relative anteriorposterior adjustment between the attached clutch formers 21 and 22 as may be required in the event a patient has a severe overbite or a severe reclining jaw condition.

To maintain the alignment of the respective jig holding members 44, 45, a slide member 49 is provided. As best seen in FIG. 9 the slide member 49 comprises a U- shaped member in which the opposed leg portions 49A extend alongside the slidably disposed leg portions of the holding means. The web 498 of the U-shaped member is provided with a tapped hole 50 for receiving the threaded shank of a screw 51 by which the holding members are secured in the adjusted position.

After the clutch components have been assembled, as shown in FIG. 10, the assembled clutch former is readied for the making of the clutch, either directly in the patients mouth or from a model of ones teeth which has been mounted with a face bow and centric registration on a suitable articulator. The assembled clutch former is first tried on either a mounted model or placed in ones mouth to set the anteriorposterior adjustment of the respective upper and lower jaw formers and fixing the adjustment by a tightening of the jig holding screw 51. It is preferred that an approximately one-eighth inch space be provided between the labial of the anterior teeth and the inside of the front plates to allow for the desired thickness of molding material, e.g., acrylic molding compound, from which the clutch is made.

After the anterior-posterior adjustment of the respective lower and upper jaw formers 21 and 22 has been made, all the undercuts on the teeth are coated with wax so as to block out the undercuts. An ideal way to accomplish this is by placing gauge wax around the teeth. After the wax has been placed around the teeth, a coating of an acrylic separator or foil is placed around the waxed teeth so as to provide for ease of removal of the plastic material from the casts or teeth after the clutches are formed. In making a clutch modeling compound is applied on the lower model to block out the tongue and form the lingual depth for the lower clutch.

Prior to forming the clutch the respective clutch formers 21 and 22 are prepared by blocking the retention holes and 41 and screw holes 32 and of the front plate with wax so as to prevent the modeling compound from subsequently blocking these holes. Also the bearing pin holes 30 are blocked with wax. The retention holes 29 and 41 of the respective back plates are not filled in with wax as these holes are utilized to retain the molding compound thereto after the clutch has been made.

With the formers 21 and 22 assembled and prepared as indicated above, the clutch assembly is fitted to the mouth or applied to the mounted models to assure that proper fit is had.

With the formers 21 and 22 properly adjusted, the molding compound or acrylic is mixed and placed onto the clutches. It will be understood that the clutches may be made one at a time or that they may be assembled as shown in FIG. 10 so that both the upper and lower jaw clutches can be made simultaneously.

In making the clutches, it is preferred that some of the molding compound, e.g., acrylic resin, is placed onto the waxed model or teeth with a spatula and onto the complementary surface of the respective back plates. The back plates of the formers 21 and 22 thus loaded with acrylic resin are then placed onto the model or directly in the mouth, as the case may be, and while the compound is still soft the compound material is shaped to form the clutch. Retention of the compound to the respective back plate is aided by the retention holes formed in the respective back plates 24 and 37.

After the acrylic compound has set up or cured, the clutches are removed from the mouth or model. The front plates 23 and 36 of the respective formers are removed and the wax adhering to the respective impressions formed is removed by boiling. After the was has been removed the respective clutches are trimmed and polished.

With the respective front plates 23 and 36 removed, the front plastic section 55 of the upper and lower impressions are separated from the main body portion of the clutch. Reference is made to FIG. 15 wherein the severed front portion 55 is illustrated. It will be noted that prior to reassembly of the severed parts 55 of the respective impressions, as will be herein described, the anterior plastic portion 55 is cut along line 57 to define a two piece clutch, i.e., the main body portion 56 and the anterior portion 55.

After the front or anterior portion 55 has been severed from the main body portion 56, it is trimmed and polished, and thereafter reassembled by re-attachment to the front plate as best seen in FIG. 15, with cold cure acrylic. While FIG. 15 illustrates the under surface of the finished upper clutch, it will be understood that the lower clutch is finished in the same way. That is, the front plate 23 of the lower clutch is likewise removed after the acrylic has set, and the front plastic portion of the lower clutch impression is severed, and thereafter re-assembled in a manner herein described. Thus each of the respective upper and lower impressions is formed of two sections, as shown in FIG. 15.

A quick or cold curing acrylic may be used to lock or attach the loose anterior piece, e.g., 55 to the respective front plate, e.g., 36, in the finished form.

As will be described the two part clutch, e.g., as shown in FIG. 15, permits the cemented clutch to be readily removed from the patient after the tracing has been made. Thus in removal, the anterior portion of the clutch is first removed by unfastening the front plate and the connected anterior portion 55 of the clutch impression. This loosens the clutch and allows the posterior section 56 to be removed without damage to the teeth. Thus both the upper and lower clutch impression can be readily removed after atracing has been made.

In preparation to making a tracing, the finished clutch, as herein described, is placed into the mouth of the patient and cemented therein. The central bearing pin 31 is placed in the appropriate tapped hole 30 and adjusted to the proper height.

To effect the attachment of the respective cemented clutch to the pantograph of a particular recording device so that a tracing of the jaw movement can be made, adaptor plates are provided. As best seen in FIG. 11 an adaptor plate comprises a mounting plate 60 having a pair of spaced holes 61 and 62 through which a fastening screw extends for securing the plate 60 to the respective front plates of the clutch as best seen in FIG. 13. The mounting plate 60 is also provided with a tapped center hole 63 to which a screw 65 is threaded to secure thereto the horizontal arm of the recording device pantograph. As shown in FIG. 11, the mounting plate or adaptor 60 is provided with a transversely extending male key 64 which is arranged to compelement with a female slot 66 on the pantograph mount 67, as seen in FIG. 16.

Because of the screw holes 32 or 40 formed on the respective front plates 23 and 36 respectively, it will be noted that the adaptor plates 33 can be variously positioned on the respective front plate. As seen in FIG. 13, the respective adaptor plates 60 are disposed off center to provide the attachment of the respective clutch impressions to a Stuart Pantograph.

As shown in FIG. 14, the respective mounting adaptors are attached centrally to the respective front plates 23 and 36 to permit the use of the clutch plates to a Denar Pantograph in an over and under position.

The adaptor 33 as shown in FIG. 11 can be used in those instances wherein the alignment of the clutch plates are in horizontal alignment with the horizontal bar of the pantograph. However, in the event of nonhorizontal alignment, :1 modified adaptor 34, as shown in FIG. 12, may be utilized with the clutch plates.

As shown in FIG. 12, the modified adaptor 34 comprises a mounting plate 70 whih is provided with spaced holes 71, 72, for receiving fasteners or screws by which the plate 70 can be secured or attached to the respective front plates 23 or 36 of the clutch formers. The mounting plate is also provided with a center tapped hole 73. Accordingly the mounting plate 70 is readily attached to the front plate 23 or 36 at the appropriate location thereon. To accommodate for any nonhorizontal alignment between the respective clutch plates and the horizontal bars 80 of the pantographic recording device, an intermediate floating bar 75 is provided. Floating bar 75 is provided with a central hole 76 arranged to be disposed in alignment with tapped hole 73. The floating bar '75 is sized to mate with a female slot 81 formed in the pantograph mount 80. In this form it will be noted that floating bar 75 can be angularly disposed relative to the mounting plate 70 so that it can be maintained horizontally disposed to lock it into the pantograph mount, regardless of the non-horizontal alignment of the clutch formers. If desired a spring washer 79 may be interposed between the respective mounting plate 70 and floating bar 75 to provide for additional stability. In the event of any anterior-posterior adjustment of the respective clutch formers, a suitable spacer bar 82 may be interposed between the mounting plate 70 and the respective front plate 23 or 36 to accommodate for any spacing differential between the clutch plate and the pantographic mount.

While the instant invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A dental clutch former for fabricating a custom clutch either directly or indirectly to a patient's mouth comprising:

an upper jaw clutch former and a complementary lower jaw clutch former,

each of said clutch formers including a back plate member and a complementary front anchor plate member,

said front anchor plate having a central front portion and opposed bent portions,

said back plate member of each of said upper and lower formers being shaped to conform substan' tially to a patients mouth,

the back plate member of said upper former being vaulted to conform to the roof of a patients mouth,

means for detachably securing the front anchor plate member of each of said clutch formers to its respective back plate member,

a bearing means interposed between said back plate member,

means for adjustably locating said bearing means,

means on said respective clutch formers adapted to function as retaining means for the impression material used for making the clutches,

and a separating membrane interposed between the back plate members of the respective upper and lower clutch formers.

2. The invention as defined in claim I and including an adaptor means detachably secured to the respective front plate member,

and means for adjustably connecting said adaptor means to said respective front member for adapting said clutch former to a pantographic mount of a jaw articulation recording device.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjustable connecting means includes a plurality of paired positioning means formed on the respective front anchor plate members,

and said adaptor means including a mounting plate for each of said front anchor plate members, each mounting plate having complementary holes adapted to be disposed in alignment with said paired positioning means formed on the respective anchoring plates,

and keying means for mating the respective mounting plates to a pantographic mount.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said keying means comprises a floating bar adapted to be angularly disposed relative to said mounting plate.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 and including a resilient means 79 interposed between said floating bar and the mounting plate.

6. The invention as defined in claim I and including a jig holding means to provide for relative anteriorposterior adjustment of said upper and lower clutch formers,

and means for detachably securing said jig-holding means to the respective front anchor plates of said upper and lower clutch formers.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said jig holding means includes a pair of complementary angle members,

each of said angle members having a leg portion adapted to be detachably secured to one of said anchor plates and having the other leg portion thereof disposed in relative adjusting position whereby the upper clutch former can be relatively disposed with respect to said lower clutch former, and

means for securing said other leg portion to maintain said adjustment of said clutch fonners.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 and including a slider mounted on one of said other leg portions of said jig holding member to prohibit relative pivoting of said members.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said slider comprises -a U-shaped member, and said U- 10 shaped member being held in position to said jig holding members by said securing means.

10. A clutch former comprising:

an upper jaw former and a lower jaw former,

each of said jaw formers including a back plate and a front plate,

posterior adjustments of said jaw formers. 

1. A dental clutch former for fabricating a custom clutch either directly or indirectly to a patient''s mouth comprising: an upper jaw clutch former and a complementary lower jaw clutch former, each of said clutch formers including a back plate member and a complementary front anchor plate member, said front anchor plate having a central front portion and opposed bent portions, said back plate member of each of said upper and lower formers being shaped to conform substantially to a patient''s mouth, the back plate member of said upper former being vaulted to conform to the roof of a patient''s mouth, means for detachably securing the front anchor plate member of each of said clutch formers to its respective back plate member, a bearing means interposed between said back plate member, means for adjustably locating said bearing means, means on said respective clutch formers adapted to function as retaining means for the impression material used for making the clutches, and a separating membrane interposed between the back plate members of the respective upper and lower clutch formers.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including an adaptor means detachably secured to the respective front plate member, and means for adjustably connecting said adaptor means to said respective front member for adapting said clutch former to a pantographic mount of a jaw articulation recording device.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjustable connecting means includes a plurality of paired positioning means formed on the respective front anchor plate members, and said adaptor means including a mounting plate for each of said front anchor plate members, each mounting plate having complementary holes adapted to be disposed in alignment with said paired positioning means formed on the respective anchoring plates, and keying means for mating the respective mounting plates to a pantographic mount.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said keying means comprises a floating bar adapted to be angularly disposed relative to said mounting plate.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 and including a resilient means 79 interposed between said floating bar and the mounting plate.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including a jig holding means to provide for relative anterior-posterior adjustment of said upper and lower clutch formers, and means for detachably securing said jig-holding means to the respective front anchor plates of said upper and lower clutch formers.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said jig holding means includes a pair of complementary angle members, each of said angle members having a leg portion adapted to be detachably secured to one of said anchor plates and having the other leg portion thereof disposed in relative adjusting position whereby the upper clutch former can be relatively disposed with respect to said lower clutch former, and means for securing said other leg portion to maintain said adjustment of said clutch formers.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 and including a slider mounted on one of said other leg portions of said jig holding member to prohibit relative pivoting of said members.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said slider comprises a U-shaped member, and said U-shaped member being held in position to said jig holding members by said securing means.
 10. A clutch former comprising: an upper jaw former and a lower jaw former, each of said jaw formers including a back plate and a front plate, means for detachably securing said front plate to the respective back plate, means formed in each of said back pLates for retaining a molding compound thereon, a membrane partition interposed between said back plates of said clutch former, each of said front plates having a plurality of positioning holes formed therein, a jig holding means detachably connected to said front plate, said jig holding means including a pair of adjustable members, and means for securing said adjustable members in the adjusted position to provide for anterior-posterior adjustments of said jaw formers. 